(no subject)
Challenge: Thanks
Title: The Perfect (Black Market) Present
Word Count: 580
Characters: Reborn, Chrome, Tsuna, Mukuro
Notes: Set in the timeline where the Millefiore arc didn't happen ... or didn't happen yet. Argh, timetravel.
Warning: Definite but mostly implied grossness. On about a PG-13 level, I'd say. I apologise to everyone who doesn't have my sense of humour.
"This is so wrong." Tsuna looked glumly at the container beside him. It looked so ordinary, like a cooler bag that held some food.
Reborn, seated nonchalantly on top of it, made a dismissive sound. "It was your idea. I told you it would look bad for the Vongola to dismantle a dirty business and then make use of it."
Tsuna sagged in his chair. "But ... it makes sense. I mean... Well ... Mukuro's getting weaker, after all this time. It's better to do this."
He hated talking about Mukuro's deterioration. Even Chrome was more willing to acknowledge it, though denial would hardly work when every so often blood trickled from her mouth and she doubled up over her midriff.
Reborn said nothing, and where Mukuro was involved, that was the most Tsuna could hope for. Then Reborn pointed to the glass door. "She's here."
Chrome's eye was huge with worry as she hurried into the hospital foyer. Tsuna stood, waving to catch her attention. It was nice to see her evident relief as she saw them and trotted over.
"Boss? What happened?" Chrome said.
"Thanks for coming so quickly. You don't have to worry, we're not hurt! Everything went okay. But..." He realised how difficult it would be to explain and clenched a hand in his hair. "Dammit."
"Hurry up, useless Tsuna," said Reborn. "This situation has a limited time frame."
"Uh. Well..." Tsuna took a deep breath. "You know that trafficking ring? The one the Ninth asked us to do something about. We found their location today and went straight there - sorry we didn't send you a message, but we had to rush. When we got there they were packing up..." He grimaced. "A shipment. And I thought ... that's not something that should go to waste, not if it doesn't have to..."
"We got you a present," Reborn summarised. He patted the container and jumped onto the arm of Tsuna's chair.
"If you want it!" Tsuna said, red-faced and looking agonised.
"They used the latest technology for the packaging and transport of their goods, so everything is in top condition," Reborn said as Chrome opened the container. "It's a good thing I made Tsuna memorise the blood types of his guardians, too, so we could get the right type."
Chrome's face lit up. That was what it looked like: the tiny, startled smile was like a light under her skin, making her look all bright and pink. It was horrifying, especially since it was adorable.
"Boss! Thank you!"
"It was..." Sort of insane. "The least I could do." Tsuna jerked as she wrapped hugged him, and then gave his first smile of the day as he accepted a kiss on the cheek.
"Can I use this right away?" Chrome said, clinging to him in gratitude and desperation.
"That would be better," said Reborn. "Go with the doctor over there. We'll wait for you."
Some hours later, they went to see Chrome though she was still unconscious. The doctors said that everything had gone well. Tsuna took her hand where it lay on the bedspread, and then darted back as Mukuro's face overlaid Chrome's.
"Really, Tsunayoshi."
"It makes sense," Tsuna said, half guilty.
"Very practical of you - it's the last thing I expected. But it's far more appropriate to give a cute girl your heart as a gift."
"Chrome-san didn't need one of those," Tsuna said. "And anyway, I don't think those organ traffickers had any spares."